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Messerschmidt fires another burst at Denmark's EV ambitions
Having branded Denmark's EV ambitions "a fantasy project" Morten Messerschmidt MEP continues in similar accusatory vein at a Danish Electric Vehicle Alliance strategy seminar
As regular readers of the climate, energy and environment news on this portal will know, Morten Messerschmidt MEP of the Danish People's Party has caused something of a stir this summer, having branded Denmark's EV (electric vehicle) ambitions "a fantasy project" and calling for the immediate suspension of the 180% registration tax exemption that EVs currently enjoy, and which enables them to compete on price with combustion-engined vehicles.
The 47-member Danish Electric Vehicle Alliance was quick to respond to Messerschmidt's proposal, opining that such a move would be "an extraordinarily unwise decision". The Alliance, which is an independent trade association within the Danish Energy Association, followed up by inviting the MEP to its strategy seminar on 1 September in order to share viewpoints. Attending the seminar were representatives of the whole EV value chain, including auto manufacturers, industry suppliers, dealers and car rental firms.
Mr. Messerschmidt duly turned up, and according to a news release on the Danish Electric Vehicle Alliance's website, appears to have continued in much the same accusatory vein as previously, firing critical questions about the environmental impact of manufacturing rechargeable lithium batteries, challenging the job creation argument, and asserting that EVs are a comparatively costly way to reduce CO2 emissions.
The Alliance's members responded with counter-arguments, presenting figures to support their view that EVs are a cheap way to reduce CO2 emissions compared with biofuels for conventional cars, the latter being the energy area where Morten Messerschmidt and his party want state support to be redirected.
Danish Electric Vehicle Alliance director Lærke Flader appealed to both members of the alliance and members of parliament to avoid letting partisan feelings cloud judgement regarding Denmark's future transport policy.
“We shall solve the transport sector's climate problems by using many technologies. EVs are an important component along with plug-in hybrid cars and 2nd generation biofuels in conventional cars,” she said.
